We have to imagine that “Breaking Bad” producer-director Michelle MacLaren badly wants to make a break from a home in the Nichols Canyon area of the Hollywood Hills that she first put up for sale on the open market in late 2014 at $3.5 million and now has available off market with a substantially lower ask of $3.1 million. MacLaren picked up the property in 1997 for $730,000 from “F Troop” actor Larry Storch, and since at least late 2011 has numerous times made it available as a rental with rates from as high as fifteen grand a month to as low as $8,500.
The 2,500-square-foot residence, designed by noted California architect Robert Byrd — he designed the BevHills house where the Manson murders occurred in 1969 — was built in 1955 on a private promontory of more than half an acre with canyon, city lights and ocean views. The woodsy, cabin-like three-bedroom and three-bathroom residence features brick and terra cotta tile floors, knotty pine paneling, vaulted ceilings, rough-hewn wood beams and three brick fireplaces (two inside and one on the terrace). There’s a fireplace in the smallest bedroom, a main floor master has a sauna and opens to the swimming pool, and a second, treehouse-like master suite exclusively occupies the second floor with balcony, sitting room and snazzily renovated bathroom with heated marble floors.
Our research shows Maclaren also owns a larger, hedge-screened home along the same winding canyon lane as the Byrd house that property records show she bought in early 2007 for $3.2 million.
listing photos: The Agency
